#Shadows Amidst Snowstorms

[dkniade]

(It’s funnier when I initially had the first two ramble about Dragonspine and the third just goes “It’s my home” haha..)

(Eula leads the Guerrilla Company in the Chinese version.)

(The joke is that in Mandarin, 魈 and 小 are pronounced almost the same but their phonetic tones are different… The first hanzi uses the flat tone and the second hanzi uses the fall-rise tone.)

[mokatora]

Beware of the Second who lives in the mountains

[javomelancholie]

Someone: Omg that prank from Albedo in the event "Shadows Amidst Snowstorms" was SO unexpected! Wtf?! What's gotten into him all of a sudden?? Was it even really him??? Albedo is, after all, a cold no fun type man who only cares about science! Does he even know how to joke? He doesn't understand human emotions! Traveler is definitely don't trust him now at all because so am I!

Traveler in game: actually was smirking back and found Albedo's behavior amusing.

(because Albedo who finds talking to people tiring but who is actively being cheeky to Lumine IS amusing)

Some totally insignificant moments from earlier:

Albedo is actually showing to Lumine his mischievous side since his first story quest, so she is aware that Albedo likes to tease her and to fool around with her.

Lumine's description of a drink "Snow-Covered Kiss" in Of Drink A-Dreaming event from version 2.5:

"The milky foam doesn't have much taste to it...

It's kind of like snow on the mountains...

The moment you taste the sweetness of the juice...

Like a sprout pushing through the ice to give you a kiss..."

The man she met:

The man she made:

Traveler is an intelligent and observing person and Lumine and Albedo share the same brain cell:

Anyway, those statements above demonstrate next things about ppl who are saying them:

lack of reading comprehension;

inattention to details;

misunderstanding of Albedo and unwillingness to understand him, his growing relationship with Traveler and his character development

[welcometoteyvat]

hrm ok albedo thoughts fuck

subject two -> created whopperflowerbedo, with the intention of discarding it/having it be defeated, ie it was meant to die or fail from the onset, vs rhinedottir -> created subject two, who was deemed imperfect and a failed experiment, ultimately also leaving him to die inside durin...... hm..... my guy....

[atimefordragons]

Oh boy, another old ass wip, Jun 2022, WHOOPS. Um, RIP Shadows Amidst Snowstorms, you have already been revamped 2 different times, and will be rebooted again! RIP past characters who are very forgotten. 

[dandelion-wings]

I am never going to write this fic but the concept has entertained me at the barn for the last two days straight, so:

After Shadows Amidst Snowstorms, Albedo decides to 'share' his life with Subject Two, and they trade off on life in Mondstadt (giving Albedo extra time to work on Dragonspine) as Subject Two learns to socialize with human beings and exist as a person.

Just as Subject Two is starting to become comfortable interacting with people, Sucrose decides to finally act on her crush on Albedo and make some romantic overtures.

Subject Two finds himself unexpectedly, absurdly charmed to be given a custom-alchemied flower. (With a bunch of notes on its creation, care, and potential functions, because Sucrose was aware of her target audience, even if she's unaware that she hasn't reached it.) He's been avoiding Sucrose a bit up until now because he was afraid someone who worked so closely with Albedo would suss him out, but clearly he is Succeeding At Albedoing if she gave him a flower! He starts hanging out with her more often while he's in Mondstadt, and tends the flower very carefully, because it's his first ever gift from a Real Person (that didn't, uh, explode in his face, because Klee).

Sucrose is thrilled with the success of her attempt. He likes it! He likes it a lot! Time to move on to Phase 2: making scientific observations together!

Albedo, returning to his turn at Being Albedo, is not sure why Sucrose is inviting him to observe whopperflowers with her? He's sure she's competent to handle one on her own if they become hostile. But he doesn't turn her down. He just also... doesn't understand why she's leaning up against him, or putting her hand on his arm so much.

Sucrose is disappointed in this sudden coolness. Maybe she's moving too fast? He's not bringing the flower to the laboratory anymore, so clearly she was jumping the gun. :(

Except that a few days later he starts again! And when he does, he brings her a flower, too. (A knight had commented on it while he was carrying the pot around, and when he said it was from Sucrose, he'd been told he ought to give one back. Important Humaning Advice that Subject Two took immediately to heart!) It's made of stone and he explains how he alchemically crafted it and she's so glad that he seems to be coming around.

Until he isn't, again, because her next few gestures get gently turned down. :( And then he is, again, suddenly, because the week later he brings her a dessert to split and goes to dinner when she invites him, but then the week after that he asks why she's trying to hold his hand, which they had been doing the past few days, and then- it's hot-and-cold to an irrational extent, here.

Sucrose, being a scientist, starts making exhaustive notes. At first she's trying to figure out if there's some external factor--her timing, Albedo's physical condition, Klee's proximity, other knights' attention, etc. But very quickly she determines that the only relevant data is... oh. hmm. small physical irregularities. She'd been willing to put down the slightly different shade of blue to the eyes as a trick of the light, but the mark at his throat goes perceptively off-model now and then, and that's always when he's interested....

Anyway, that's why she rigs an elaborate series of traps in order to confine both of them at once and determine the exact nature of what's going on here. Wait, they're both homunculi? This is fascinating, she needs to take so many notes, have they run any tests, can she run more tests--yes, she'll let them out of the traps, she just needs to make exhaustive notes on their perceptible differences first.

Subject Two cannot understand why Albedo wouldn't want to hold this woman's hand. Fortunately, while she was initially crushing on Albedo, at this point she'd rather have the one who's been actively and enthusiastically building a romantic relationship with her. Albedo, being very aroace, is frankly relieved to cede this particular ground. (Although he does get to practice his Big Brothering and note to Sucrose that she should probably go light on the testing, as that is a bit of a sore spot.) Happy endings all around!

Including for at least one future baby Fellflower, because Subject Two knows where some dormant seeds are buried and (correctly) decides that Sucrose would love to help him raise them, and Klee, because obviously what every happy couple wants on their romantic fellflower-seed-unearthing dates is explosions in the background. :>

[hearts401]

Dorian/Subject Two Stimboard with coal, raven, and blood themes

sources: X x X// X x X // X x X

[valentine-rabbit]

Some Albetrio sillies I made for a TikTok, which you can find right here! Fellflower/Whoppy was my fave <3 I'm still so sad I missed that event, it was so lore heavy and interesting!

[the-books-doctor]

A bit of a different post than usual, but I thought I’d promote one of my fanworks for a rarepair in the Genshin Impact community! Presenting “And The Other Half’s Luck”, a story about best friends finding love and loss, and their enduring story through time itself. Set within the canon of the game, this story aims to show what may have been going on with our favorite characters and how they navigate relationships with one another. Check the links (either the Link in my bio, in my story, or in this post) to read it! https://archiveofourown.org/works/42366228/

[evercelle]

year 2 of no albedo winter break... damn 😔

[smlvctrvns]

When surveying individuals across various demographics, the majority express a fundamental desire for a tranquil existence. Their aspirations revolve around basic human needs, such as a nourishing meal, affectionate embraces from loved ones, a comfortable sleeping arrangement, and a nurturing home environment. Moreover, they seek moments of shared joy and companionship, often symbolized by laughter and convivial gatherings over beverages. Tragically, the toll of conflict is borne by these very individuals. A mother deprived of seeing her son again, a father who never returns to his family, siblings robbed of the shared pleasure of communal meals, an aunt whose smile has vanished, and friends lost along the arduous journey—all are casualties. Countless homes were devastated and an untold number of cherished memories shattered simply because external forces deemed it appropriate to unleash the horrors of war upon them.

[dkniade]

Contrast and Unity in the White/Black Imagery of Genshin Impact Quest Titles

Dragonspine 1.2 & 2.3 Events, Fontaine Act I

Game: Genshin Impact

Developer: HoYoverse

Fan Localization: Dusk

An aside from when I tried to explain the meaning of Kreideprinz’s Chinese term—

In Chinese, 白垩 is used to refer to Albedo with varying meanings but in the English version the term is even less consistent: 

Concealed Talon item description 白垩层 (baie ceng) = “Cretaceous Layer” (of soil) localized as “Cretaceous”

Albedo’s Story Quest Chapter title 白垩之章 (baie zhi zhang) = “Cretaceous Chapter” localized as “Princeps Cretaceous Chapter”

Albedo’s second Ascension voiceline, 白垩 (baie) = “chalk”/“Cretaceous”, localized as “albedo”, the second stage of the alchemical magnum opus

(even though in the context of alchemy, the albedo (Latin: “whitening”) stage should be 白化 (baihua, whitening) in Chinese because the albedo stage does not refer to chalk/limestone)

Albedo’s title 白垩之子 (baie zhi zi) = possibly varies slightly depending on context that it appears in, localized as “Kreideprinz”

Xingqiu’s “About Albedo” voiceline, 白垩老师 (baie laoshi) = (teacher) “Mr. Cretaceous” (Latin) or “Mr. Chalk” (English) or “Mr. Kreide” (German) localized as “Mr. Kreideprinz”

Version 1.2’s name 白垩与黑龙 (baie yu heilong) = “The White Chalk and the Black Dragon” or “Cretaceous and the Black Dragon”

or one can localize it in German like how they did the 4.0 Chapter IV Act I “Prelude of Blancheur and Noirceur” (French: “Prelude of Whiteness and Blackness” or ”Prelude of Innocence and Darkness”)

though, officially, Version 1.2’s name 白垩与黑龙 is localized as “The Chalk Prince and the Dragon”

Speaking of black and white in titles, another aside—

Don’t you know that HoYoverse loves juxtaposing white/black or light/shadow in its quest titles

1.2 Dragonspine event

Chinese: 白垩与黑龙 (Baie yu Heilong) = “The White Chalk and the Black Dragon” 

Official English: “The Chalk Prince and the Dragon”

2.3 Dragonspine event

Chinese: 皑尘与雪影 (Aichen yu Xueying) = “White Dust and Snowy Shadows” 

Official English: “Shadows Amidst Snowstorms”

皑 from 白雪皑皑 (baixue aiai) usually refers the whiteness of snow specifically, so 皑尘 as “(snowy) white dust” is just their over-the-top way to say “snow”.

“Snowy Dust and Snowy Shadows” sounds too humorous though.

I’VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY THIS FOR A LONG TIME NOW: of course symbolism-wise it’s likely that “white dust” refers to Albedo, “snow” refers to the Cryo Whooperflower Albedo, and “shadow” refers to Primordial Albedo, with Durin encompassing all three as the shadow dragon that lies dead—like dust—in the snowy mountain.

HoYoverse being HoYoverse has found a way to say white and black without even using the hanzi for white (白) and black (黑) back in 2.3.

4.0 Fontaine Act I

Chinese: 白露与黑潮的序诗 (Bailu yu Heichao de Xushi) = Prelude of White Dew and Black Tides

Official English: “Prelude of Blancheur and Noirceur” 

with French terms translated: “Prelude of Whiteness and Blackness” or “Prelude of Innocence and Darkness”

Given the information in 4.0, I would assume that “white dew” refers to Furina and “black tides” refers to Neuvillette seeing how Furina’s always at the front of key visuals and Neuvillette’s always looming ominously over the background, but you can also think of it as innocence vs guilt, I suppose.

POETIC ALLUSION UPDATE: 白露 alludes to the Chinese poem “蒹葭”(Jianjia) = “Reed”

from the ancient collection of poems, 诗经 (Shijing)

The poem is basically the narrator talking about not being able to reach their lover, who’s on the other side of the water (lake?)

The act’s Chinese title is already over-the-top—since most people would look at it and think “ah white and black and something about water, got it”—so localization’s aim is to match the fancy feel and not the accuracy ‘cause honestly if you localize all that into French it’d be too long. This makes sense…

Though, the implication that French holds such a high prestige that its mere presence is enough to balance out some loss of meaning from the Chinese title is… strange, now that I think of it.

白露与黑潮的序诗 (Prelude of White Dew and Black Tides) in French would be “Prélude de la rosée blanche et des marées noires”… I think. (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)

This time HoYoverse found another way to say white and black while using the hanzi characters AND STILL BE EXTRA BECAUSE THEY ALLUDED TO A CHINESE POEM OF COURSE THEY DID. ARCHONS, man…

New drinking game: take a shot whenever black/white or dark/light is juxtaposed in a Genshin title/name of any language, take another shot if they don’t actually use the word/character for black/white in the target language, take another if they alluded to a Chinese poem or literature in the original LOL

[the-roadtrip-system]

oops

[javomelancholie]

By the way, for anyone who still don't understand that we met the REAL Albedo in Mondstadt at the end of event "Shadows Amidst Snowstorms" I wrote an analysis on reddit where I explained everything.

[conqueenror]

They HAVE to give us Albedo's second SQ/ Venti's second SQ/Mondstadt Interlude quest or anything like that during the Natlan cycle where some shit happens again in Mondstadt, involving Durin and Albedo, and please even more Rhinedottir lore thankyou, and Dragonspine and. Yk. They gave us the prologue, they HAVE to give us the story after all those years. Or what was it for then.

[cessalina]

Tell me what are we fighting for

Another year has come to the end of autumn, and it's time to look back at the Albedo quest that is yet to be continued. What was the outcome of the battle? Is the Albedo we knew still with us? Did the other one die or was imprisoned? Or did he escape? Or were they reconciled? After all, what is the point of fighting? What's the point of fighting if they can both be themselves? Is it really worth killing or destroying someone who wants to live so badly? So many questions, but I hope that at the end of the fight they will look at each other as brothers and show the first born how to live happily ever after.